Ride control unit



Sept. 15, 1942. R. B. coTTRELl.

RIDE CONTROL UNIT 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1940 Sept. 15, 1942- R. B. coT'rRELL .RIDE CONTROL UNIT Filed Dec. 23, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "N10 LJ@ Patented Sept.- 15, 1942 'UNITED STATES PATENT Y OFFICE anni ooNTnoL UNIT Robert a. Cottrell, chicago, m, assigner u American Steel Foundries, Chicago, lll., a corporation of New Jersey ppiication December 23, 1940, Serial No."371,28 3

` 21 claims. `(o1. iss-its) My invention relates to a novel form of ride control unit particularly` designed for application to railway car trucks.

My novel ride control unit is in the `iiature of a friction absorbing device suitably arranged for convenient application between relatively movablemembers in a railway car truck.

v An object of my invention is to design a, ride.

control unit in which friction surfaces may be conveniently'arranged of suitable size for application to various forms of railway equipment l and, to that end, -I have arranged my device so that it may readily be applied to various types of railway car trucks. y

My invention comprises a novel arrangement of friction casing suitably constructed for mountingon a frame member of a railway car truck and a shoe 'carrier supported in said casing and arranged for connection to a relatively movable frame member. v

My invention contemplates an arrangement wherein a control unit casing may be secured to one truck frame member and an actuating bar secured to a. relatively movable truck frame member with said actuating bar comprising an end portion on which may be carried friction shoes and resilient means for engagement with friction walls on said housing.

A different object of my invention is to ldevise a novel control unit such as described comprising a' friction casing, a shoe carrier supported therein, and a plurality oi' friction shoes interdevice substantially as indicated by the line 4--4` of Figure l. y

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sideelevation 'of a railway car truck with my novel control unit applied thereto.

Figure. 6 is a sectional view through the truck shown in Figure 5, the section being taken transversely in the vertical plane indicated by the line B-Sof Figure 5.

bottom waus s and lo to :crm

ure 6 but showing an alternate arrangement for mounting the control unit.

Figure 8 is a sectional view through a modiiication of the device, said view corresponding in general to that of Figure 2 but diering therefrom in that the actuating arm and shoe carrier are formed as a single member.

Describing the control unit in detail, it may te noted that it comprises a friction casing 2 including spaced front and rear walls .l and 6, said rear wall 6 being extended beyond the top and integral lugs I2 and i6 with central openings I 6 as convenient'means of `connection to a frame member. As illustrated, the casing'ris shown as' a built-up structure, the back wall 6 being shown as a plate and the front and top and bottom walls as a separate plate formed to shape and welded to the back plate. This casing maybe formed as a cast structure, if desired., Centrally positioned within the casing is. a shoe supporting member or carrier 2li of rectangular form f having the central slot or opening 22 for reception of an actuating memberv 24 which-may be connected to a frame member which is relatively movable with respect to the rstinentioned frame member to which the casing may be connected. Centrally formed on Opposite faces of the shoe carrier 20 are the raised lugs 2G, 26 serving as positioning means for the rubber pads or t springs 28, 28 .which are seated against the opposite faces of the shoe carrier Runder compression between said carrier and they spaced friction shoes 30, 30, said shoes being formed with central raised spring positioning lugs 3|, 2l,

saidshoes being identical in form/but reversely positionedv with respect to each other. The lugs l`26, 28 are spaced opposite the lugs 3l, 3|, thusl aiording stop means against overcompression of the pads 28, 28. 0n the back of each shoe is formed a friction surface having' engagement as atl with the friction face 34 formed on the inner surface of the casing, said friction faces 34.

34 being shown in parallel relationship. Eachy shoe is formed at one end withaniwardiy extending centrally positioned finger ori lug Vand at the oppositefend is formed with spacedin- Figure 7"'is a view comparable to that of liii-` 55 wardly directed lugs 38, '3l between which may i be received the center lug or finger 3 6 of the oppositely positioned shoe. The interengaging lugs or fingers 36' and 38 of the opposite shoes may abut `as at "and l2 the dat topand bottom surfaces of the shoe carrier 2o so that vertical movement of said carrierV is immediately lated to the shoes. Tolerances may necessitate and |'8 serving I and I2 between the shoes member l defining with the integral column lli the bolster opening |08 and the adjacent window opening lil. The tension and compression members adjacent the column are formed rattling will be prevented by 28, 28 which are compressed- Each shoe is 6 may be shown a method of .n

with spaced lugs H2, H2 with aligned openings t through which may extend securing pins H4, HI, said pins extending through the eyes or openings I6 and Il of the ears i2 and Il positioned at the top and bottom of the control unit. Associated with the control unit is the actuating bar llt which extends transversely past the column |06 and in front of the bolster opening |08 and may be connected in any convenient manner to a load carrying member or bolster (not shown) normally supported in said bolster opening on' a spring group (not shown) which may be Dositioned on the spring seat I il at the bolster opening. As shown in Figure 8, the control unit 2 is illustrated as applied to the outboard face of the side frame but its position may bottom of said be reversed, if desired. so that the control unit will be mounted within the inboard and outboard planes defining the opposite faces of the frame member as illustrated ln Figure 7. In this position of mounting, the actuating bar ile will extend through the adjacent columns into the bolster opening for connection to the bolster or load carrying member which is supported for relative movement with respect to the side frame.

The modification shown in Figure 8 differs from that shown in Figure 2 only in that the shoe carrier and control bar or actuating means are shown integral as a one-piece structure designatedv |20. Said actuating bar Ill may be formed with enlarged end portions serving as shoe carriers and on opposite faces of said end portions may be integrally formed the spring positioning means |22, |22. Otherwise. the parts aresimilartothose showninFlgure2 andoom-f prlsethehousing 2 withfrontandnear walls 4 and l'and top and bottom walls) and lo on which may be formed the oppositely spaced friction surfaces Il. 24. Supported on the actuating able frame members of a truck may be affected is optional.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the .spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

1. A control unit forl connection between relatively movable members of a railway car truck comprising a casing for support from one of said members. and actuating means for connection to the other of said members, said casing having spaced internal friction faces, a' shoe carrier, friction shoes supported on said carrier in'engagement with said friction faces at opposite sides of said casing, each shoe having vertical guide flanges maintaining said shoe in squared vrelationship with said'casing, resilientpads under compression between said carrier and the respective shoes, and a connection between said carrier and said actuating means.

2. A control unit for connection between relatively movable members of a railway car truck comprising a casing for support from one of said members, and actuating means for connection to the other of said members, said casing having spaced internal friction faces. -a shoe carrier,`

friction shoes -supported on said carrier .in engagement with said friction faces at opposite sides of said casing, and resilient Dads under compression between said carrier and the respective shoes, said actuating means extending into said carrier for. operation thereof and being slidably and removably engaged therewith.

3; In a friction absorbing ride control unit, a friction casing comprising spaced friction faces. a shoe carrier supported in said casing, friction shoes supported on said carrier in `engagement with saidfriction faces at opposite sides of the casing, resilient pads under compression between said carrier and said shoes. respectively, aligned lugs on said shoes and said carrier affording stop means against lateral movement of said carrier. and means associated with said`carrler for actuation thereof, said shoes having interlocking members extending above and below said carrier 'for abutment therewith and support of said shoes.

4. In a friction absorbing device, a housing comprising spaced parallel friction surfaces, friction shoes in said housing. eaehof said shoes having a friction face, resilient means rurging said facs! into engagement with respective surbaior earner m may be the spaced meson unit is designed in auch form that this connection canconveniently be made in a great numberof framestructureaandthemannerlnwhich this connection between two such relatively movfaces. and a friction shoe carrier clamped by and :between said means.

5.. Ina friction absorbing ride control unit. a

friction casing having internal friction faces, a

shoe carrier supported therein. friction shoes in abutment Awith said friction faces at opposite sides of said device, alternately arranged interlacing lugs onsaid shoes extending on opposite sides of said carrier, resilient means under compression between said carrier and said shoes respectively, actuating means for said carrier, and positioning 'means on said carrier and said shoes for said resilient means. l

6. In a friction absorbing ride'control unit, a friction casing comprising spaced friction faces, a shoe carrier supported in said easing, friction shoes supported on said carrier in engagement with said friction faces at opposite sides of the casing, resilient pads under compression between "said carrier and said shoes respectively, and` means slidably and removably associated with said garrier for actuation thereof. .v '7. In a friction absorbing ride control unit, a friction casing having internal friction faces, a

shoe carrier supported therein, friction shoes inmeans against excessive lateral movement of said carrier, and means associated with said carrier for actuation thereof.

8. In a friction absorbing ride control unit, a` friction casing having internal friction faces, a

shoe carrier supported therein, friction shoes in abutment with said friction faces at opposite sides of said device, guiding means on said shoes and said casing, interlocking lugs on said shoes extending on opposite sides of said carrier, resilient means under compressionr between said carrier and said shoes respectively, and actuating means for said carrier.

9. In a friction absorbing ride control unit, a friction casing comprising spaced friction faces. ashoe carrier supported in said casing, friction shoes supportedon said carrier in engagement with said friction faces at opposite sides of the casing, resilient pads undercompression between said carrier and said shoes respectively, and aligned lugs on said carrier and said shoes aiIording positioning means-for said pads and stop means against lateral movement of said carrier.

10. In a friction absorbing ride control unit, a casing having spaced parallel friction walls, friction shoes in abutment therewith. interengaging positioning means on said shoes and ,said walls.

alternately arranged interlacing lugs von said shoes, a carrierconfined between said lugs, resilient means under compression between said shoes and carrier, and actuating means' associated with said carrier.

11. In a friction absorbing ride control unit, a casing having spaced parallel friction walls, friction shoes in abutment therewith, interengaging positioning means on said shoes and said walls, alternately arranged interlacing lugs on said shoes, a carrier confined between said hws. resilient means under compression between said shoes and carrier, and positioning means on said shoes and carrier for said resilient means.

12. In a. friction absorbing ride control unit, a friction casing comprising spaced friction faces, a shoe carrier supported in said casing, friction shoes supported on said carrier "in engagement with said friction faces at opposite sides of the casing, resilient pads under compression between said carrier andsaid shoes respectively, having openings transversely thereof, meanslon said shoes and into said openings.

13. In a. friction absorbing ride control unit, a casing having spaced parallel friction walls, friction shoes in abutment therewith, interengaging Said pads and stop said carrier projecting positioning means on said shoes and' said walls, alternately interlacing lugs on said shoes, a carrier confined between said lugs, and resilient means under compression between said shoes and carrier.

14`.In a ride control unit of friction absorbing type, a casing having spaced friction walls, shoes supported on said walls in frictional engagement therewith, a carrier interposed between said shoes, resilient means under compression be-` tween said carrier and the respective shoes. and actuating means slidably engaged with said carrier.

15. In a friction absorbing device, a housing comprising spaced parallel friction surfaces, friction shoes in said housing, each of said shoes having a friction face, a resilient member associated with each shoe and urging the face thereon into engagement with the associated surface,y and a friction shoe carrier clamped by and between said members. v

16. In a friction absorbing device. a housing comprising oppositely spaced parallel frictionA walls, a friction shoe engaged with each wall, a resilient member engaged with each shoe, and a friction shoe carrier between said resilient members and connected thereto.

17. In a friction absorbing ride control unit, a housing comprising 'spaced frictional walls, a shoe carrier in said housing, friction shoes resiliently supportedon said carrier and frictionally v vertically within said engaged with said walls, and means for actuating said carrier and slidably associated there-A with.

18. In a friction absorbing device. a housingl comprising oppositely spaced friction walls, a. friction shoe engaged with each wall, a resilient member associated with each shoe, a friction shoe carrier between said resilient members and connected thereto, and actuating means associ'- ated with said carrier and operable to rectilinearly move said shoes within said housing.

19. In a friction absorbing device, a housing comprising oppositely spaced flat verticalfriction walls, friction' shoes in said housing and in engagement with said walls, a resilient member urging each shoe into tight engagement with the associated wall, a friction shoe carrierA between ,said resilient members and connected thereto. and an actuator adapted to move said carrier housing.

,20, In a friction `absorbing device, a housing comprising internal friction surfaces, .friction shoes in said housing. a resilient member urging each shoe into tight engagement with an associated surface, and actuating means between said resilient members, connected thereto, and operable to linearly move said shoes within said housing 2.1. Ina friction absorbing device, a'housing ,comprising spaced parallel friction surfaces, 

